New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-04
TRYING TO BURN THE QUEEN.
AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE THROWN ON THE
STEAMSHIPS DECK


II. J. MOONEY THREW THE MIXTURE IN BOT
TIES FROM ROw-BoAr TO THE DECK
HE WANTED TO GET EVEN WITH ENG
LAND FOR THE SEIZURES OF AMERI-
CAN VESSELS IN CANADIAN
wATERs-HIs PROCLAMATION.
James Doherty, an Irish-American, earns his
livelihood by hiring out row boats from Pier
No. Al North River, at Leroy-st. At 11;15
yesterday middle aged man with well marked
liibcrnian features, light complexion, red mus
tache and goatee wearing pepper and salt suit,
straw hat and low shoes, appeared on the pier
and asked Doherty to let him have a row boat
for an hour. The stranger carried a parcel
under his arm about foot square wrapped in
light brown paper. He looked over the dozen
boats that were bobbing up and down in the slip
tied to float and selected thirteen foot boat
with the name Scotch Bladeo painted on the
stern piece
Il will pay you when bring the boat in.n
he remarked to Doherty as he stepped into the
skif He rowed around the end of the pier.
and turning down the river kept on his course
till he reached Pier No. 80, where the steamers
OF the National Line tie up. The iron steamship
Queen lay on the south side CT the pier. She
was 70 sail at 1880 p. m, and the hustle Of
preparation for her departure was everywhere
NslDle. Scores of longshoremen and sailors wero
on the pier and the vessel About o dozen
passengers had gone aboard. The company'5
barge Echo lay alongside the steamship putting
In the last OF a cargo Of cotton -hales ns,gs
were pushing in and nns, and all was noise ana
confusion. The little rowboat with the lrishman
glided beside the Queen and took up position
just under the stern Of the barge, where for
tbreeNuarters Of an hour it tossed gently on the
waves. Jacob Ueland, the captain of the barge,
Inal al want fha acta 6urfp
took survey OF the man in the boat. lie
had seen the same man in the same place in
n rowboat the previous afternoon. LELAND looked
at the parcel In the stern Of the rowboat and saw
that the paper was dsarranged, showing three
white, round quart bottles. They contained
whitish fluid that might have been dirty river
water Judging from It's appearance.
What have you got in those bottlesfs
asked LELAND.
"Oh, a little whislxey for the captain and
first officer" said the occupant of the boat and
be wfnlred toward the big steamer overhead.
Ueland went away Ten minutes afterward
the man I'm the boat rowed directly under tho
port side of the steamer, laid down his oars
and seizing two Of the three bottles tossed them
up on the promenade deck of the steamer. They
struck an awning and dropped on tile deck about
twenty feet from the after end and about threo
feet from the side There was fash and
strong smell Of sulphur, and the deck for n
space Ot eH IetU ny tWcuty Wdc uiuHht "e -
great rate instantly the ship and adjoining ptee
were q scene of indescribable eXcitementt 1he
nearest person to where the bottles fell and ex-
ploded was a steward. lie shouted t1rev ana
rushed forward. The officers took prompv ard
decisive measures. The steamships fire hose was
Immediately put in working order anu played
on the blazing deck. Water only spread tho
flames for it blazcd like OIL Finally with somo
difficulty the fire was eXtinguished after scorch-
ing the deck black and burning hawser In two.
In the meantime the man who had thrown tho
bottles had after completing his work seized his
oars and made mighty exertions 70 escape. bue
he had been seen and the fugitive was pointed
out to George l.. Andrews, the supcrintenient ~
the pier Andrews along the shore and
kept the rowboat with the occupant in sight.
At the Guon pier next above the National
Andrews jumped into the tug Goodwin. Captain
jack Barrett put on steam and stecred after
the rowboat. The fugitive rowed under tho
Stonington pier In the effort to eludc his pursuers
But he quickly found that new danger was
bearing down on him. Detective Robert Vail,
of Captain Gastlin's squad was passing in
street when he saw the smoke and flame on
the Queen, and he promptly took part in the
chase after the fugitive lie seized a rowboat and
pulled after him. The Irishman emerged from
the Stonington pier and made straight away for
Leroy-st, pulling thirty-nne strokes to the min
ute. Vail let his rowboat drift and boarded tho
tug, and the chase was resumed. Finally tho
was captured by Vail. Pursuers and pursued
were dripping with perspiration.
You're my prisoner" said Vail
The prisoner demonstrated and asked for tin0
to pay the boatman. Afterward he was taken To
the police station at Pier No. 35 and searched.
He described himself as Thomas j. Mooney, sim
Gle, age thirty mine, native Of Ireland, clother
by trade, and living at No. 267 Warren-st,
Brooklyn. In his pockets were found Smith
and Wesson pistol, thirty-two calibre, box OF
ol-ip anfcI il
q handsome sheath, a memorandum book, box
of cigarettes, copy of a newspaper, and tho
manuscript of Proclamation The latter had
been posted on several dead walls and board
fences around town for q day two and had
received wide publicity. II reads as follows;
PROCLAMATION
malice engaged and = now so IN
Snsar Ss5i@g threat and .,aryatiSa and '
The n ae,sa IN s s hs ds
sa' Isn Sss EasS rsS and forced into esn.ds
United flag IN defiance OF the protest OF the American
Whereas The English has failed apoogze
and NAL cous ontrag against our beloved
bhssas There no suitable means Of redress which can
ne majority Of whe are yefy *.
Resofesd Of the United states DO hereby
aud notify citizens not 70 go DOWN to hs
.sps s catering an leaving port
day OF August 1887, until the English Government shall
make ample suitable apology TO the United states
Issued ts lat day OF August the City OF New.York, by
order of the captain commanding the Legion.
Much speculation had been expended as to who
was the author OF the proclamaton."
Mooney was taken to Police Headquarters and
questioned BY Inspector Steers.
7" was thwartcd" said he to the Inspector y but
there are plenty of OF hers who will avenge the in
suit to the American flag"
Mooney passed his hand as he spoke over MS
slopng forehead and head, which was adorned by
the thnnest of light haIr cut close. lie has
large, sharp nose and kecn gray eyes lie was then
taken to the Jefferson Market Police Court hand
cufied between Captain GastlIn and Detective
Vail. Hc did not seem cast down worried. but
seemed to regard the whole thing with a sort Of
mIld-eyed wonder. like a country boy at circus
Justice Duffy sat on the bench. lie asked
for the prisoners pedigree, and the
answers were given as they had been 40
he police station. Mooney was informed that he
need not ansXer il thereby be would crimiuat0